The Season of the Mosquito

 

The Season of the Mosquito

Mosquitos in the Chicagoland Area

In a report published by NBC Chicago in 2019, the Chicagoland area was ranked 4^th in the United States for the most mosquito complaints. We fell just behind Atlanta, New York, and Washington D.C. in the ranking, which was one spot higher than our ranking the previous year. Due to the high volume of mosquitos in our area, paired with the great risk of mosquito-borne diseases, the Illinois Department of Public Health enacted a “vector surveillance program” to track these blood sucking pests. This surveillance involves capturing and testing the mosquitos for virus’ each year. Last year in 2020, 2,343 of the mosquitos that were caught in the program tested positive for West Nile Virus. With mosquito season right around the corner, it’s important to be aware of the ins and outs of these pests as well as what to expect as they reemerge with the coming warm weather.  

Life Cycles of Mosquitos

Most species of mosquitos go through 4 life stages, each of which can vary in duration depending on the particular species. Eggs, the first stage, are laid in still sources of water where they will eventually hatch after just a few days to a few months after being laid. Larva hatch from the eggs and develop into pupae while still submerged in water in a matter of roughly 5 days. Following this, the pupa matures into an adult over the course of just a few days. In total, female mosquitos live an average of a month or two while males only last for about two weeks after hatching. Contrary to popular belief, not all mosquitos suck blood, rather, it is only the females that partake in such meals. This is due to the fact that they require high doses of protein and iron in order to produce their eggs – both of which are present in human blood. Unfortunately, these insects are prolific breeders that are able to produce between 50 – 500 offspring in a single brood and up to 10 broods in a lifetime. These females will lay their broods in other standing bodies of water, starting the cycle all over again.

‘Tis the Season… for Mosquitos

Mosquito season in the mid-west tends to begin around mid-April to late May depending on the weather of the particular year. The catalyst for their arrival is typically a constant temperature over 50 degrees (including nights) for the span of about a week. Once this condition has been met, we can expect to start seeing these bloodsuckers all over the place, with peak populations exploding around June and July. Unfortunately, the warmth and humidity of our summers in the Chicagoland area can be near ideal conditions for mosquitos to flourish; and the forecast for mosquito populations this summer in 2021 is expected to be above average. Thankfully, our mosquito season is shorter than other areas of the United States and tends to dissipate by mid-October.

Mosquito Prevention

Prevention is key for avoiding full mosquito infestations in your yard. Here are some steps you can take to help reduce your chances of mosquitos breeding in your yard:

• Keep gutters free of debris and trash so stagnant water does not accumulate
• Make sure bird baths, pet water bowls, and other outside water is changed regularly
• Do not overflow flowerpots with water
• Trim back excessive foliage to avoid densely shaded areas
• Ensure that drains are not blocked

But even if mosquitos aren’t breeding in your yard, you’re still at risk of being bit by mosquitos that are passing by. In order to protect yourself, you can:

• Wear clothing that covers your exposed skin
• Apply mosquito repellant
• Burn citronella candles near you
• Plant different flowers and herbs that repel mosquitos naturally (ie. lavender)

The Best Mosquito Protection

Scheduling seasonal Mosquito Control Treatments is the best way to protect yourself and your family from an onslaught of potentially dangerous bites. At Pointe Pest Control, our mosquito treatments include elimination of ticks and fleas as well. Your exterminator will do a complete treatment of your yard to best safeguard your family and home from these pesky vectors of disease.  

Citations

2021 Mosquito Forecast: Updated for 2021 (2021) Pests.org. Available at: https://www.pests.org/mosquito-forecast/ (Accessed: April 5, 2021).

Chicago Ranks 4th in US for Mosquito Complaints, Pest Control Company Says (2019) NBC Chicago. NBC Universal Media LLC. Available at: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-mosquitoes-west-nile-orkin-ranking/78801/ (Accessed: April 5, 2021).

How Mosquitos Got Their Taste for Human Blood – What it Means for the Future (2020) SciTech Daily. Cell Press. Available at: https://scitechdaily.com/how-mosquitoes-got-their-taste-for-human-blood-what-it-means-for-the-future/ (Accessed: September 2020).

Keubeck, E. (2012) Are You a Mosquito Magnet?, WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/are-you-mosquito-magnet#1 (Accessed: June 2020).

Mosquitoes (no date) Illinois Department of Public Health. Available at: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/structural-pest-control/mosquitoes (Accessed: April 5, 2021).

Mosquito-Borne Diseases (2016) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/mosquito-borne/default.html (Accessed: April 2020).

Mosquitoes Surveillance and Control (no date) Illinois Department of Public Health. Available at: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/zika/mosqSurv (Accessed: April 5, 2021).

West Nile Virus – Positive Birds, Mosquitoes, Horses and other Animals (2020) Illinois Department of Public Health. Available at: http://public.dph.illinois.gov/wnvpublic/wnvsurveillance_data.aspx?year=2020 (Accessed: 2021).

What Happens to Your Body When a Mosquito Bites You (2019) YouTube. Brightside. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91X8RcJBFwA (Accessed: July 2020).